Are nursing home workers more likely to be fired after an injury?
A recent study revealed that nursing home workers who are injured are more likely to lose their jobs within six months. In fact, injured workers are two times more likely to lose than jobs than those reporting no injuries. Moreover, workers who have suffered multiple injuries are twice as likely to quit their jobs in the next 6 months than non-injured workers.
New Work Environments
Generally, individuals are more prone to being injured within the first few months in a new work environment. In workplaces where there has been job turnover, as in the case with injured nursing home workers, the chances for another injury to occur increase. Federal and state regulations are designed to protect workers from being fired after being injured and provide workers' comp benefits. However, it appears that these laws are not being followed.
The study focused on 30 nursing homes across New England and found that:
- 30 percent of workers had been injured at work and about a quarter were no longer employed at that job after 18 months
- Injured workers were 30 percent more likely to no longer be in their jobs within six months of the injury, whether voluntarily or involuntarily
- Individuals who were injured more than once were more likely to choose to leave their jobs than people with no injuries, while people injured only once were more likely to be fired
Reasons Why Injured Workers are Fired
While the study lacked data to explain why workers are being fired, some employers may believe that injured workers will no longer be able to perform their duties or are more likely to be injured again. In cases where employers have not put in place protections to reduce the occurrence of injuries, some nursing home workers may be more inclined to leave their jobs.
However, it is a fundamental right of all employees to work in a safe environment. Workers also have a right to be covered by workers' compensation insurance, receive medical treatment and to file a workers' comp claim without fear of reprisal or harassment from an employer. If you have been injured at work in Pennsylvania, you should consult with an attorney who has expertise in workers' compensation filings and proceedings.